Pedro Santos (footballer, born 1988)

Not to be confused with Pedro Santos (disambiguation).

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Martinsand the second or paternal family name is Santos.

Pedro Santos

Santos with the Columbus Crew in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Pedro Miguel Martins Santos [1]
Date of birth	(1988-04-22) 22 April 1988 (age 35) [1]
Place of birth	Lisbon, Portugal [1]
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s)	Winger, full-back
Team information
Current team	D.C. United
Number	7
Youth career
1996–1997	Sporting CP
1997–2000	ADCEO
2000–2002	Sporting CP
2002–2007	Casa Pia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2010	Casa Pia	39	(25)
2010–2012	Leixões	41	(5)
2012–2013	Vitória Setúbal	28	(4)
2013–2017	Braga	76	(18)
2013	→ Astra Giurgiu (loan)	2	(1)
2014	→ Rio Ave (loan)	14	(0)
2017–2022	Columbus Crew	155	(23)
2023–	D.C. United	27	(2)
International career
2007	Portugal U19	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:15, 12 April 2024 (UTC)

Pedro Miguel Martins Santos (born 22 April 1988) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a full-back for Major League Soccer club D.C. United.

After starting out at Casa Pia, he went on to amass Primeira Liga totals of 118 matches with 22 goals at the service of Vitória de Setúbal, Rio Ave and Braga. He represented Leixões in the Liga de Honra, and also competed professionally in Romania with Astra Giurgiu and the United States with Columbus Crew.

Santos represented Portugal at under-19 level.

Club career

Early career

Born in Lisbon, Santos played youth football with three clubs, including Casa Pia A.C. from ages 13 to 19. He spent his first seasons as a senior in the lower leagues, scoring a career-best 17 goals in 2009–10 to help the team promote to the third division. ^[2]

Subsequently, Santos moved to the professionals after signing with Leixões S.C. from the Liga de Honra. In his second year at the Estádio do Mar, he started in 23 of his 27 appearances (four goals) and the side finished in 11th position.

In the summer of 2012, Santos joined Vitória de Setúbal, making his debut in the Primeira Liga on 19 August of that year by coming as a 68th-minute substitute in a 2–2 away draw against C.D. Nacional, where he won a penalty and was also booked. ^{[3] [4]} His first goal in the league arrived on 4 November, when he played 79 minutes and helped the hosts defeat Sporting CP 2–1. ^[5]

Braga

Santos moved to S.C. Braga also in the top tier in June 2013. ^[6] Before the end of the transfer window he was loaned to Romanian club FC Astra Giurgiu, and scored to cap a 4–0 win at FC Oţelul Galaţi on his 15 September debut after coming on at half time for Gabriel Enache. ^[7] Having made just three more appearances in all competitions, his loan was terminated in December. ^[8]

On 8 January 2014, Santos was loaned again to Rio Ave F.C. in Braga's league until the end of the season alongside teammate Stanislav Kritsyuk. ^[9] He played 22 total games for the team from Vila do Conde, and scored once to conclude a 3–1 away defeat of S.C. Covilhã on 26 January to qualify for the semi-finals of the Taça da Liga; ^[10] he started the final defeat to S.L. Benfica ^[11] and the loss to the same opponent in the Taça de Portugal decider too. ^[12]

After returning to his parent club, Santos helped to consecutive fourth-place finishes and scored a total of 12 goals in the process. ^{[13] [14]} On 22 May 2016, he replaced Josué for the last minutes of regulation time in the national cup final (2–2 draw), and converted his penalty shootout attempt in a 4–2 victory at the Estádio Nacional. ^[15]

Columbus Crew

2017 season

On 7 August 2017, the 29-year-old Santos signed for Columbus Crew as a designated player, for a club record $2.3 million. ^{[16] [17]} He made his Major League Soccer debut 12 days later, playing 28 minutes in a 1–1 away draw against Orlando City SC. ^[18] He finished his first season with two assists in 14 matches, with the Crew being eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals by Toronto FC. ^{[19] [20]}

2018 season

Santos scored his first goal for the team on 24 March 2018, concluding a 3–1 home victory over D.C. United. ^[21] It was his only of the campaign, and he was sent off on 5 May in a goalless draw at Seattle Sounders FC for a kick to Alex Roldan's face. ^{[20] [22]} The Crew would go on to make the playoffs, ultimately losing to the New York Red Bulls in the Conference semi-finals 3–1 on aggregate. ^[23]

Asked about his performance throughout the year, Santos replied: "Individually, it was not a poor season but I expect to score more goals. I always work for the team and I give my best for the team, to help my teammates. I think I had a good season but I was expecting to score more goals, for sure." ^[23]

2019 season

During the 2019 season, Santos recorded best professional figures of 11 goals from 33 games, ^[24] while playing both as a winger and stepping in as an attacking midfielder for the injured playmaker Federico Higuaín, who had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. ^[25] On 28 July, he scored twice in a 3–2 away defeat of the New York Red Bulls. ^[26] However, his side would struggle mightily due to injuries across their entire roster and would miss out on the playoffs. ^[27]

2020 season

Santos moved back to winger for the 2020 season, and scored eight goals and assisted on seven more in 26 matches across all competitions as his team won the MLS Cup for the first time since 2008, making him the first Portuguese player to earn a medal in the tournament; he missed the final against the Seattle Sounders due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, however. ^[28] The day after the victory, his contract option for 2021 was exercised. ^[29]

2021 season

On 8 April 2021, Santos converted a penalty in a 4–0 victory over Real Estelí FC in the round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions League, ^[30] but injuries to incumbent left-back Milton Valenzuela forced him to cover that position for the majority of the campaign. ^[31] On 29 May, playing in that position, he dished out two assists in a 2–1 win over Toronto. ^[32]

In July 2021, Santos was fined an undisclosed amount for simulation against the New England Revolution. ^[33] On 29 September, he helped the Crew win 2–0 against Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup. ^[34]

Following the return of Valenzuela, Santos was pushed higher up the pitch, resulting in a one-goal, two-assist performance in a 4–0 victory against Inter Miami CF on 16 October. ^[35] In December, he signed an extension with an option for 2023. ^[36]

2022 season

With Columbus losing their first-choice left-back to a free transfer over the off-season, Santos became the starter, ^[37] with his lone goal coming from a free kick against D.C. United on 30 April. ^[38] At the end of the season, he was not retained and thus became a free agent. ^[39]

D.C. United

On 21 November 2022, it was announced that Santos had signed a two-year deal with D.C. United. ^[40] He scored his first goal with his new club the following 24 June, helping the hosts to defeat FC Cincinnati 3–0. ^[41]

International career

Santos earned two caps for the Portugal under-19 team, in as many friendlies against Spain in March 2007. ^[42]

Career statistics

As of 6 April 2024 ^{[43] [44]}

Club	Season	League			Domestic Cup [lower-alpha 1]		League Cup [lower-alpha 2]		Continental [lower-alpha 3]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Casa Pia	2008–09	Terceira Divisão	14	8	1	0	–		–		–		15	8
	2009–10		25	17	3	0	–		–		–		28	17
	Total		39	25	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	43	25
Leixões	2010–11	Liga de Honra	14	1	2	0	2	0	–		–		18	1
	2011–12		27	4	3	0	1	0	–		–		31	4
	2012–13	Segunda Liga	0	0	0	0	2	1	–		–		2	1
	Total		41	5	5	0	5	1	0	0	0	0	51	6
Vitória Setúbal	2012–13	Primeira Liga	28	4	2	0	4	0	–		–		34	4
Braga	2013–14	Primeira Liga	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	2014–15		26	5	4	0	3	0	–		–		33	5
	2015–16		23	7	7	1	3	2	8	0	–		41	10
	2016–17		27	6	2	2	3	1	5	0	1 [lower-alpha 4]	0	38	9
	2017–18		0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	–		2	0
	Total		76	18	13	3	9	3	15	0	1	0	114	24
Astra Giurgiu (loan)	2013–14	Liga I	2	1	2	0	–		0	0	–		4	1
Rio Ave (loan)	2013–14	Primeira Liga	14	0	4	0	4	1	–		–		22	1
Columbus Crew	2017	MLS	9	0	0	0	5	0	–		–		14	0
	2018		30	1	0	0	3	0	–		–		33	1
	2019		33	11	2	0	–		–		–		35	11
	2020		22	6	–		3	2	–		1 [lower-alpha 5]	0	26	8
	2021		32	4	–		–		4	1	1 [lower-alpha 6]	0	37	5
	2022		29	1	0	0	–		–		–		29	1
	Total		155	23	2	0	11	2	4	1	2	0	174	26
D.C. United	2023	MLS	21	1	0	0	–		2 [lower-alpha 7]	0	–		23	1
	2024		6	1	0	0	–		0	0	–		6	1
	Total		27	2	0	0	–		2	0	–		29	2
Career total			382	78	32	3	33	7	21	1	3	0	470	89

1. Includes the Taça de Portugal, Cupa României, and U.S. Open Cup
2. All appearances in the Taça da Liga and MLS Cup Playoffs
3. All appearances in the UEFA Europa League and CONCACAF Champions League
4. Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
5. Appearance in MLS Is Back knockout round
6. Appearance in the Campeones Cup
7. Appearances in Leagues Cup

Honours

Santos (left) in action for Braga against Shakhtar Donetsk in October 2016

Casa Pia

• Terceira Divisão: 2009–10

Braga

• Taça de Portugal: 2015–16 ^[15]

Astra Giurgiu

• Cupa României: 2013–14 ^[45]

Columbus Crew

• MLS Cup: 2020 ^[28]
• Campeones Cup: 2021 ^[34]

Individual

• SJPF Segunda Liga Player of the Month: November 2011 ^[46]
• SJPF Segunda Liga Young Player of the Month: November 2011 ^[46]

References

1. "Pedro Santos" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
2. Cunha, Pedro Jorge (5 December 2019). "80 anos à espera do FC Porto: "Ninguém esquece o Casa Pia"" [80 years waiting for FC Porto: "No one forgets Casa Pia"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
3. "Nacional 2–2 V. Setúbal" (in Portuguese). SAPO. 19 August 2012. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
4. Freitas, Marco (20 August 2012). "Infantilidades a mais" [Too much of child's play]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
5. "V. Setúbal-Sporting, 2–1 (destaques)" [V. Setúbal-Sporting, 2–1 (highlights)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
6. Ruela, João (14 June 2013). "Sp. Braga apresenta o reforço Joãozinho" [Sp. Braga apresent addition Joãozinho]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
7. "Măcel la Galați! Oțelul – Astra 0–4. "Dublă" Cristescu și doi jucători eliminați de la gazde" [Butchery at Galați! Oțelul – Astra 0–4. Cristecu "brace" and two players sent off for the hosts] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 15 September 2013. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
8. "Pedro Santos îşi va rezilia contractul cu Astra Giurgiu" [Pedro Santos will rescind contract with Astra Giurgiu] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 23 December 2013. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
9. "Stanislav Kritciuk e Pedro Santos reforçam Rio Ave por empréstimo do Braga" [Stanislav Kritciuk and Pedro Santos bolster Rio Ave on loan from Braga] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
10. Fernandes, Nuno (26 January 2014). "Rio Ave vence na Covilhã e está nas meias-finais" [Rio Ave win in Covilhã and are in the semi-finals]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
11. Gomes, José Pedro (7 May 2014). "Benfica conquista quinta Taça da Liga de futebol" [Benfica conquer fifth League Cup in football]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
12. "Benfica garante Taça de Portugal e faz "pleno" nas competições nacionais (vídeo)" [Benfica confirm Portuguese Cup and "take it all" in national competitions (video)] (in Portuguese). TSF. 18 May 2014. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
13. "Pedro Santos volta à casa onde conseguiu afirmar-se" [Pedro Santos returns to where he made a name for himself]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 27 February 2015. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
14. Vasconcelos, Ricardo (5 March 2016). "Pedro Santos cria um quarto dos golos" [Pedro Santos creates one quarter of the goals]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
15. Calaveiras, Carlos (22 May 2016). "Sp. Braga vence Taça de Portugal" [Sp. Braga win Portuguese Cup] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
16. "Crew SC adds 3rd DP in Portuguese midfielder Pedro Santos". Columbus Crew SC. 7 August 2017. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
17. Valentine, Ben (8 August 2017). "Columbus Crew sign Pedro Santos from Braga as designated player". Goal. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
18. "#MLS | David Villa sigue implacable" [#MLS | David Villa remains relentless] (in Spanish). Deporte Total USA. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
19. Baer, Benjamin (29 November 2017). "Toronto FC 1, Columbus Crew SC 0 | MLS Cup Playoffs Recap". Major League Soccer . Retrieved 22 August 2023.
20. "Pedro Santos". Columbus Crew SC. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
21. "Pedro Santos 2018 Match Logs". FBRef. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
22. Lijenwall, Ari (5 May 2018). "Seattle Sounders play 10-man Columbus Crew SC to 0–0 draw". Seattle Sounders FC. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
23. Gonçalves, João (26 November 2018). "How did the MLS season go for the Portuguese players?". The Herald News . Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
24. Myers, Jacob (25 September 2020). "Columbus Crew's offense trending upward with better performances from Pedro Santos". The Columbus Dispatch . Retrieved 22 August 2023.
25. Myers, Jacob (29 February 2020). "Crew hoping Pedro Santos lives up to last season's promise". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
26. "Santos' second-half brace lifts Crew over Red Bulls". WABC-TV. 28 July 2019. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
27. Myers, Jacob (26 September 2019). "Columbus Crew officially eliminated from 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
28. Gillen, Sean (16 December 2020). "Happiness and disappointment: Portuguese midfielder Pedro Santos reflects on MLS Cup win after COVID-19 diagnosis". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 19 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
29. Myers, Jacob (14 December 2020). "Columbus Crew announces roster, contract decisions for 2021 after MLS Cup championship". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
30. Myers, Jacob (8 April 2021). "Gyasi Zardes, Columbus Crew dominate Real Esteli FC 4–0 in CONCACAF Champions League". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
31. Myers, Jacob (23 June 2021). "Columbus Crew's momentum to be tested with two road games before opening new stadium". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
32. Liljenwall, Ari (29 May 2021). "Recap: Columbus Crew 2, Toronto FC 1". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
33. "Columbus Crew's Pedro Santos fined for simulation by MLS Disciplinary Committee". Major League Soccer. 6 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
34. Pedrosa Costa, Eduardo (30 September 2021). "Pedro Santos volta a fazer história no futebol americano" [Pedro Santos makes history again in American soccer]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
35. "Gyasi Zardes scores twice as Crew humble Inter Miami". ESPN. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
36. Costello, Thomas (8 December 2021). "Pedro Santos re-signs with the Crew". SB Nation. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
37. Myers, Jacob (15 February 2022). "Pedro Santos at left back is Columbus Crew's biggest experiment entering 2022 season". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
38. "Columbus beats DC United 3–0 to end scoring drought, skid". Associated Press. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
39. Johnson, Bailey (26 October 2022). "Columbus Crew decline options on four players, including Pedro Santos and Erik Hurtado". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
40. "D.C. United sign Pedro Santos as a free agent". D.C. United. 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
41. Kallassy, Sarah (24 June 2023). "Recap: D.C. United defeat first-place FC Cincinnati 3–0". The District Press. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
42. "Pedro Santos" (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
43. Pedro Santos at ForaDeJogo (archived)
44. Pedro Santos at Soccerway
45. "Finala Cupei României: Steaua-Astra 2–4 la lovituri de departajare (0–0 după prelungiri). Giurgiuvenii, la primul trofeu din istorie" [Romanian Cup final: Steaua-Astra 2–4 in penalty shootout (0–0 after extra time). Giurgiu, the first trophy in history]. ProSport (in Romanian). 24 May 2014. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
46. "Pedro Santos – Leixões – Prémios foram entregues" [Pedro Santos – Leixões – Awards were handed out] (in Portuguese). Mitch Foot Futebol Matosinhos. 28 January 2012. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.

External links

• Columbus official profile
• Pedro Santos at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Pedro Santos at Major League Soccer